Map Basics - Maps Collections in the Research Center - ResearchGuides at Tulsa City-County Library

We've Got a Map for That!

Basic Information about Maps

Just what are maps and how do you make sense of them? From National Geographic to the United States Geological Service, answers are at your fingertips.

What are Maps?
Latitude & Longitude
What the Heck is a Township?
Rootsweb's detailed explanation of the legal descriptions (townships, ranges, and sections) of pieces of land as used in Oklahoma.
Township and Range System of Mapping in Oklahoma
A description from the Oklahoma County Assessor of the township and range system used in Oklahoma.
Finding a Map with only a Land Description
OkGenWeb's genealogy site designed to help users find maps by township and range.
Tulsa Streets and Avenues Directory
The Tulsa Telephone Directory's list of major streets and their block numbers for navigation assistance.
Map Projections
USGS Map Scales
Exploring Maps USGS Teacher Packet
Glossary of Cartographic Terms
The Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection's Glossary of Cartographic Terms from: Maps for America. Third Edition.

Profile Page

Kathy Harger

Contact Info:
Research Center, Central Library
400 Civic Center, Tulsa, OK 74103
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Links:
Profile & Guides

Subjects:
Maps, Land Records

Map Collections in the Research Center

The Research Center in Tulsa's Central Library holds in its collections a large number and variety of print and digital maps. However, we have moved. The Central Library location closed Friday, August 30th, 2014 for renovation. During the renovation, the maps collection is housed at a temporary nonpublic facility at 44th and Sheridan. You can make an appointment to visit the collection by contacting us.

Research Center Digital Map Collections

Large format printer/map plotter HP DesignJet 5500 is available, capable of printing full color up to 42 inches wide.

Online/CD/DVD resources include:

Aerials Express
Aerial photography for the Tulsa County area. Photos were flown in February 2007
Digitized Maps Collection
The Research Center's digital images of historical Tulsa and Oklahoma maps in our collection.
Historical USGS Oklahoma quadrangle maps
15' and 30' Indian Territory USGS maps scanned by the University of Alabama
Map View/Tulsa Bytes
Parcel mapping software from the Tulsa County Assessor's Office updated annually
Mississippi River charts
River charts from the mid to late 1800's scanned by the University of Alabama
Oklahoma Department of Transportation maps
Includes: Oklahoma's Incorporated City Maps, Indian Territory Map, Oklahoma State Highway maps from 1916-2000
Oklahoma Sanborn Maps, 1867-1970
Maps created to assist fire insurance companies as they assessed the risk associated with insuring a particular property
Oklahoma Topographic interactive maps
Includes 1:24,000, 1:100,000, and 1:250,000 scale maps
Tulsa County aerial maps
Imagery in the 1950's and the 1960's

Research Center Paper Map Collections

Paper resources include:

1:24,000 scale topographic maps for states west of the Mississippi River
1:100,000 and 1:250,000 scale topographic maps covering the United States
1980's Tulsa County aerial maps
A.I. Levorsen Geology Collection maps
A worldwide canvas-mounted collection of geological maps primarily from the 1920's-1960's
Floodplain maps for Tulsa County
Government Land Office plat maps
Oklahoma and some surrounding states from the 1890's to the early 1900's
Historical Oklahoma highway maps
Back to the late 1910's from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Historical Tulsa and Oklahoma maps
Miscellaneous Tulsa and Oklahoma maps from the late 1800's to the early 1900's
National Parks Series maps
Oklahoma Territory and early Oklahoma statehood maps
15' and 30' USGS maps
U.S. and foreign geological maps
USGS Geologic and Hydrologic Series maps
World Hydrographic Maps
A series of maps published mostly between the mid-1930's and the mid-1950's, with a few in the 1920's, by the Hydrographic Office under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy. The series covers many non-U.S. coastlines around the world with soundings in fathoms and heights in feet. The Research Center houses this set in our storage area.